Shirley Bjellum
Shirley Buryl (Bjornstad) Bjellum, 76, of Fargo N.D., passed away on Aug. 22, 2012 in Fargo N.D. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, at Hope Lutheran Church South, in Fargo. Pastor Chuck Olmstead officiated. Burial will take place at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, at Wilmington Lutheran Cemetery in Arnegard, N.D. Following the interment, family will gather at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard. Shirley was born on Nov. 27, 1935, in Arnegard, N.D., to Bryan and Buryl Bjornstad. She attended high school in Arnegard. She attended Concordia College in Moorhead for one year before transferring to Minot State University for her final three years. At Minot State, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. Shirley married Kjell Gilbert Bjellum on Aug. 26, 1960, in Arnegard at Wilmington Lutheran Church. Prior to getting married, she worked as an elementary school teacher for a few years before starting a family and concentrating on raising her children. Shirley and Kjell lived in many communities due to the Air Force, including New Hampshire, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Rapid City, S.D., and Williston, N.D. Shirley and Kjell ran a successful office cleaning service in Williston for many years. After selling their business, Shirley went to work as a “traveling interviewer” for Mathematica Policy Research. She and Kjell travelled around the tri-state area for several years before Kjell became ill and passed away in 1999. After Kjell’s passing, Shirley moved to Rochester, Minn., for a few years before moving to Fargo where she entered Bethany Gables Assisted Living and eventually the Bethany Nursing Home. Shirley enjoyed gardening, reading, and researching her genealogy. Shirley was involved with Sons of Norway in Rapid City, S.D., and helped her husband Kjell start the Borgund Lodge #532. She was also very proud to recently be accepted as an official member of the “Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR.” She had successfully shown that her ancestor, Colonel William Stacy, was involved in the American Revolution. Shirley is survived by her five children, Lise DeAnn Charles, Dr. Hans Erik and wife, Jodi, Bjellum, Karla Renee and husband, Shawn, Ward, Karen Michele Bjellum, and Karl Edward and wife, Marcy, Bjellum; sister, Geraldine Seedorf; grandchildren, Timothy Bryan Charles, Tiffany May Charles, Tiana Mai Charles, Taylor John Charles, Brooke Shelby Bjellum, Connor Jakob Bjellum, Samuel Karl Bjellum, Kaitlyn Rae Bjellum, Nicholas Kjell Bjellum, Paige Josie Bjellum, Alexander Shawn Ward, and Maxwell Milt Bjellum; and great-grandchildren, Thorian Bryan Charles, Hunter Alan Charles, Annika Christine Charles, and Milo Pahl Ybarra. Shirley Bjellum is preceded in death by her husband, Kjell Bjellum; her parents, Bryan and Buryl Bjornstad; and her brother, Charles Bjornstad. The family of Shirley Buryl Bjornstad Bjellum wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Bethany Gables Assisted Living and Nursing Home, Hope Lutheran Church, Wilmington Lutheran Church, Essentia Health Hospital, F/M Ambulance-Fire, and Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard, N.D. Please feel free to sign the guestbook at www.hansonrunsvold.com